Action Alert! Chicago: Vax Protest Wednesday
Wednesday afternoon The American Rally for Personal Rights is hosting a major anti-vaccination rally in Grant Park.
How major? Andrew Wakefield, the de-licensed physician, himself will be there giving a talk.
Upon hearing word of this protest, my friend Bruce Critelli (A/V ass kicker for the Women Thinking Free and Skepchicamp) emailed the WTF board and the old Skepchicamp planning crew to remind us that this shit doesn’t go down in our city on our watch.
So tomorrow afternoon, Women Thinking Free volunteers are heading to Grant Park to do their part to help counter the deadly communicable BS being spread to the people of Chicago. We’ll be there to get the word out to any innocent bystanders who might be pulled in by conspiracy propaganda, and do what we can to spread the message of rationality, science and not killing kids with the fucking measles.
If you can be at Grant Park from 3-5pm, please be there! Contact me for information: elyse(at)womenthinkingfree.org
If you want to help but have obligations preventing you from getting downtown tomorrow, contact me. We need help getting pamphlets and informational materials together. We also could use some help getting our informational website up and running.
Unfortunately, I’m at reduced capacity right now, so we need extra help!
Please. Help.
Also, there will be free SurlyRamics for everyone attending.
**UPDATE: Bruce and a few folks from WTF will be at the rally stage in Grant Park from 2-3pm. They will have informational fliers to hand out and Fliers for anyone who wants to help spread the word… unfortunately, the surlies and fliers are running on the late side and might not be there until after 3 when the rally starts. But they will be there.
Look for Bruce Critelli: glasses, red Skepchicamp shirt and a small camera.**
I believe in free speech. We all believe in free speech. But some people … should be muzzled, at least after a debate and real dialogue. This is BAD! It’s the people who are susceptible to the message of popular media who will be hurt by this. I am saddened that some innocent mother might be influenced by this. I am saddened if one single child might be hurt.
If I was in the area I’d probably print out loads of copies of The Facts In The Case Of Dr. Andrew Wakefield (in booklet format) and hand them out.
Wish I could go!
Do you hand out a FAQ for the rally to help bystanders understand the REAL facts.
Although the Jenny McCarthy page is a great one.
I think I would have that one side and the FAQ on the other.
Sorry I’m too far away to attend.
FYI the Chicago Skeptics are activating: http://www.meetup.com/Chicago-Skeptics/messages/boards/thread/9168845/